Continued from June 2024
LINK to Opening Page with background and history of this nest and relevant links
This season so far
31 March Blue LJ2 returns
1 April Blue 372 briefly visits, 6 April Blue 372 returns and stays
Sadly, Blue LM6 has not returned
Eggs laid
#1 April 23 - 17.40, #2 April 26 - 19.28, #3 April 29 - 15.46
Hatched
June 2 - 00.52, June 4 - 09.48? It is not known for certain which eggs these are. My thoughts are these are eggs 2 and 3 and egg number 1 did not hatch. (Left unattended on a frosty night)
However, the consensus among the volunteers is that it is eggs 1 & 2 which have hatched. Llyn Benig is around 1000 feet above sea level so the ambient temperature is around 2 degrees Celsius lower than at sea level which might account for longer hatching times. It has certainly been a cold hatching period. (AG)
Chicks ringed 08/07/24 - (Second hatched) 8B8 (M) 1500g 265mm - (First hatched) 8B9 (F) 1620g 291mm
Chicks named 18/07/24 8B8 EMRYS - 8B9 BETHAN
Chicks fledged 28/07/24 (54 days old) - 27/07/24 (55days old)
All captures and videos ©️NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
RESUMÉ for JUNE 2024
This has been a month of fast change. Two chicks were born at the beginning of the month. On chick 1’s day of hatching, someone was flying a drone in the area and it spooked 372. She alarm called and quickly left the nest with the little chick being thrown to the nest edge as she left. Somehow that wee one had the instinct and strength to move back to the nest cup and safety again. 372 has proven to be a great first time mother. She has gently fed the chicks, given them warmth and shelter and LJ2 has provided well with a variety of daily fish. There have been the usual intruders which has distracted LJ2 at times from bringing in fish but he would always bring some later on. The chicks are now 4 weeks old and developing very well. There is a hierarchy between the chicks with #1 being dominant over #2, mostly at feeding times. #2 knows to allow #1 to feed first then it’ll get its turn. Gelert KA9(22) son of LJ2 and LM6, was photographed at Dyfi 3 weeks after his visit here on 25 May.
13 August
Good afternoon. What a spectacular sky this morning. Oh yeah and an Osprey, it’s LJ2!
05.45
05.29 Bethan has been on the nest from early on looking for a feed.
05.42
05.55 she left with a small stick accidentally getting caught in her talons.
She vocalised all the way off, did a loop and returned still shouting and still with the stick attached.
She released it.09.43 She’s been on and off a few times.
10.32 Bethan must’ve gone for a wee wander as there was only 372 around when LJ2 arrived with a fish.
Emrys wasn’t around either.
It was very small
10.33 372 flew off with it.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
10.37 LJ2 came to the nest.
10.38 He started chipping
Looking upwards
10.39 Still chipping then he left.
12.24 Later, 372 came to the nest.
She was very watchful.
12.26 She started mantling
12.30 She continued mantling then started vocalising and lifted her wings.
A pair of legs hovered over the nest, blue darvic ring on right leg.
Could it be 476?
12.31 The bird flew over the nest
12.34 372 calmed down then flew off.
12.35 372 flew to the tower perch after her encounter with the intruder.
12.54 Emrys joined her a short while later.
14.41 The PTZ cam caught the intruder on a perch.
I think it does look like 476 who is a male born in 2021 on a private nest site in Cumbria.
I should imagine Brenig will verify on their FB.
14.01 Meanwhile, before the intruder was resting on the perch, he had been bothering Bethan on the nest.
Bethan was sort of pancake mantling.
14.25 She hardly moved from the spot.
14.27 She defended heroically, shouting at the top of her voice
14.3614.37 The bird flew overhead and Bethan was up on her feet flapping and screaming.
14.47 It sounds like she’s calling for fish now.
I was wondering why Bethan was left to defend the nest alone. The PTZ camera went looking for the adult birds.
They were found both with fish. I think this was LJ2
and this 372, she appeared to be vocalising and flapping.
15.02 372 came to the nest first with her large headless fish.
15.03 Bethan was very pleased to receive it.
372 left.
15.07 Emrys arrived
LJ2 then flew in with a fish for Emrys.
15.08 It was another flatfish. He brought one a few days ago as well.
15.09 They’re both happily eating now.
16.09 Bethan was first to finish eating. She flew off leaving the fish on the nest.
16.16 372 flew on to eat the fish.
16.24 Emrys and 372 eating together.
16.48 Emrys has finished his fish.
He cleans his beak on some sticks.
16.49 Off he goes. 372 is still eating.
16.56 372 has finished now too. She does some tidying up.
16.57 Bethan announces her arrival.
16.58
372 cleans her beak
then departs.
19.00 372 lands on the nest. The juvies can be heard calling from nearby.
Bethan arrives first.
LJ2 lands with a fish.
372 takes the fish.
19.01 LJ2 has left and Emrys arrives.
19.02 372 starts eating the fish.The youngsters are very noisy. Bethan looks down to see if any fish are below.
19.10 Emrys is being fed 372 whilst Bethan continues to vocalise. After today, I’m sure she’ll have a sore throat!
19.19 Bethan has decided it’s her turn now and moves forward, getting her first piece.
19.23 Emrys got a few more pieces before leaving.
19.39 Bethan getting all of 372’s attention.
19.43 Bethan decides to take the fish, just skin and tail fin left.
19.45 372 leaves
19.47 Bethan swallows the last piece.
19.47 She cleans her beak. Emrys can be heard vocalising. Bethan answers him and departs.
20.39 An amazing evening sky. There may be an Osprey on the tree under the smudge!No ospreys sleeping on the nest tonight but it looks like 372 has chosen to sleep on the tower perch.
She arrived at 20.42 and was still there as darkness fell.
14 August
05.24 Good morning. 372 is still on the tower perch.
.
05.31 Bethan is first to the nest, in full voice.
Emrys is joining in from the tree behind her.
05.32 She manages to get her left talons caught on a stick.
Then flies off with said stick, making a racket the whole time.
05.38 Emrys flies down from the tree to the nest.
05.39 He is shouting all of the time too. He then leaves.
05.38 372 has been on the tower perch the whole time watching her 2 youngsters.
She left a few minutes later.
05.52 Bethan has been on and off the nest a few times. Her talons are so sharp, getting lodged in nesting materials as she moves about the nest.
She flew off with a piece of bark attached then returned with it still there.
06.54 LJ2 comes to the tower perch. He stays for 15 minutes.
07.39 372 back at the tower perch for a bit of preening.
08.08
08.19 Bethan flies up from the nest perch.
09.01 Emrys has just arrived at the tower perch for some preening.
09.02
11.27 372 came to the nest fish calling.
LJ2 brought her a nice whole fish.
11.28 No sign (or sound) of the youngsters, she takes it off nest.
11.30 The PTZ cam caught 372 with her fish.
After she’d had a feed she took it to the nest.
11.57 Bethan was already there waiting for her.
11.58
12.00 Bethan ate for over 20 minutes
12.23 then stopped, started vocalising and took her fish to the side of the nest.
She looked around and waited a couple of minutes before leaving, shouting as she went.
12.25
An alarm call was then heard.